The
Artapherana is a name collectively used for four unique and fascinating trees
which can be found only upon the Efirhal Hill in
Milkengrad. Each one of them appears to
represent one of the four elements and has a personality of its own. A glow of
colored light emanates from each tree, according to its element and, when winds
blow from the Thaelon, a melody is heard,
sometimes sad, sometimes joyful. This melody has the ability to create certain
emotions to those who hear it and is used as a means of communication.

Their individual names of the trees are Aeolerin, Nertelyx, Hydraloth and
Helpheran. The exact origin of the Artapherana is still unknown, but sages in
the 4th century a.S. connect them with the
League, a secret elven guild that played an
important though subtle role in the Helcran
development.

Aeolerin,
the Tree of Air
The Tree of the Air, Aeolerin, looks like a willow tree.
She reaches approximately 25 peds in height. Aeolerin’s trunk is shaded with a
mixture of light brown and silver. Her leaves are a dark green, with a thin
silver line running through their centre. Aeolerin emanates a bright white glow
that looks like a visible breeze that passes through her ever-moving branches
and surrounds her like mist. Aeolerin expresses her anger with a burst of hot
wind.

Aeolerin has an affection for spiritual persons such as sages, artists,
diplomats, priests and philosophers. Her favourite race are the
elves.
Anactari who promoted science and arts were adored by her, without doubt her
favorite was Curogane II. Aeolerin likes spiritual persons, books, tomes, and
other literature, and is the symbol of the Anactarian Library.

Nertelyx,
the Tree of Earth
The Tree of the Earth, Nertelyx, bears a strong resemblance to an
oak tree. His height of 40 peds makes Nertelyx the tallest
of the Artapherana. Nertelyx has a thick blackish-brown trunk with shiny leaves
of an indefinable colour, a mixture of gold and dark green. Nertelyx’s acorns
emanate a golden light that fades within a few minutes of separation from their
tree. Nertelyx uses a lightning bolt that derives from its acorns to defend
himself.

Nertelyx is the symbol of the Smith’s Guild in
Milkengrad. He is considered to favor all
kind of practical trades and persons such as smiths, miners, craftsmen,
laborers, architects and mathematicians. His favorite race are the
dwarves or
Thergerim.

Hydraloth, the Tree of Water
The Tree of the Water, Hydraloth, is similar in form to a poplar tree and is 30
peds tall. Her trunk is decorated in shades of white and very light brown
colours. Hygraloth’s leaves are semi-transparent, have a crystalline look and a
pale green color and look very much like the crystal grass that covers the top
of the Efirhal, the hill where the Artapherana stand. Hydraloth uses electricity
bolts to feign attackers.

Hydraloth is the tree that favors the humans.
She is the symbol of the civilian harbour in
Milkengrad. Merchants, sailors, lawyers, politicians, fishermen and
explorers are considered to be favoured by her.

Helpheran, the Tree of Fire
The Tree of Fire, Helpheran, looks like a plane tree. He is approximately 35
peds tall. Helpheran’s trunk is a deep reddish-brown in hue. His leaves have a
bright red colour and give off a yellow glow. Helpheran’s seeds are as round and
red as fresh embers. The general appearance of Helpheran is as if he is
perpetually on fire, making him the brightest of the Artapherana. He uses fire
winds to express his dislike.

Helpheran, the symbol of the Military Academy in
Milkengrad, is also the most passionate
of the Artapherana. He shows affection with an increase in his light to military
men, hunters and statesmen. However he seems not to favor a certain trade;
rather, he focuses on the personal attributes of those who approach him. There
are several tales of the great sympathy Helpheran expressed for the
Anactari Helronn and Curogana. He
emanated a glow that blinded everybody in the vicinity except his beloved kings,
and when they passed away Helpheran began to radiate so wildly that the citizens
thought the city was on fire.

Territory.
The Artapherana are four unique trees to be found only upon the Efirhal Hill in Milkengrad.

Myth/Lore.
There exist several stories
about the Artapherana’s psychic abilities. It is
commonly believed among the
Centoraurians that the Artapherana have the ability to "see"
into the souls of the living and reveal their deepest fears, desires and dreams.
The legends can be listed as follows:

Helronn's
Fire
Helronn, the founder of Milkengrad
was adored by the Artapherana and especially Helpheran. Each time he
entered the circle of the trees they rejoiced so much and their light
became brighter. Helpheran's
fire was so intense that everybody
in the vicinity, except Helronn, was temporatily blinded.

The Embracing of Curogane II
The Anactar
Curagane II was Aeolerin's favorite. Many
evenings he sat under her branches and they had some form of
communication. It is still remembered that when Curogane II approached
Aeolerin, her light fell like soft white rain upon him and her branches
embraced him gracefully.

Contemption of the
TyrrantArpagar, the usurper of the
Anactarian
throne, was deeply contempted by the Artapherana. Each time he
approached the Efirhal either he was blinded by their light or their
light faded so much that they seemed to be normal trees. The melody of
the Artapherana for the seven years of
Arpagar’s reign, was the only sound the Artapherana made. This
melody (later on called “Tunes of Wrath”) expressed all their anger
about the usurping of the throne and the suffering of the
Helcrani.

Resistance to the
Invaders
At the Fall of Milkengrad, in 617
b.S., the
Artapherana let none of the invaders approach them. They used their
innate powers and with hot wind,
lightning, fire and electricity
helped Senrin with his task to keep the invaders away from the Efirhal.
And later on during the occupation no Turacanthian was allowed near
them, reminding them that they were foreigners to a foreign city.

Affection for
Curogana and Thar
There is also a legend that Curogana fell in love with
Thar upon the Efirhal. The trees
created a romantic atmosphere with their light and one exciting melody
that created a romantic atmosphere. It is rumored that every time the
royal couple was sad, they sought refuge among
the Artapherana. They have traveled many times, as kings of Tharania,
all the way to Milkengrad just to
stay for a couple of hours under the shadow of the Artapherana.

The Ultimate Trial
In severe crimes that are punished with death the accused has the right
to request the Ultimate Trial. The one who passes it is relieved from
all accusations while the one who fails it is executed.

To pass the Trial, one must be presented to the Artapherana and accepted
among them as they let no person disgraced by murder or low vice
approach. The Trees cannot and do not judge if the accused is guilty of
the crime; they rather focus on his/her personality and if he/she is
worth of living. In case they find the accused worth of life they reward
him/her with a bright light, symbol of their acceptance. The unworthy is
condemned by the Trees and their light fades
slightly, while fire and lightning
prevent the unclean person to approach them.

Rise and Fall of
Anactari
When an Anactar dies, the light
of the Artapherana fades for some time. This way the whole city of
Milkengrad knows when their
sovereign has passed away. On the other hand, when an Anactar is
inaugurated and receives Helronn’s sword upon the Efirhal and among the
Artapherana, the blessed trees seal the ceremony with their light.
However, if the Anactar is
illegitimate their light fades away, as happened with
Arpagar and Cumrann.

The
Taming of theDragon
During the reign of the Anactar
Ascandir a
dragonis said to have
attacked Centorauria
and finally reached the capital. He inflicted many casualties to the
Helcrani who came to confront
him and he seemed invulnerable to normal weapons and the mages from
Ximax were still on their way to the
city. However, the dragon was attracted by the
Artapherana and - astonished by their beauty- lay down and fell asleep among them.
Later, he didn’t seem to be aggressive, accepted offerings from the
citizens and eventually developed a relationship with the
MilkenProtectors of the Trees. The city fed the
dragon, while he decided to make his nest
upon the Efirhal and share his wisdom with the locals. However, never
did the dragon explain the reason of his
aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, after a couple of months, the
dragon left the city suddenly and for no
apparent reason heading westwards towards Hèckra
and wasn’t heard again. Rumors say that, if he appears again, he will be
recognized by the medallion of the Protectors that the
Anactar himself gave him as a
token of friendship.

Origin.The exact
origin of the Artapherana is yet unknown, except maybe to the top members of the
League. Artemidoreus,
the League’s leader and inspiration, is
said to have brought the four great Artapherana seeds and planted them upon the
Efirhal, but what their original source
was nobody knows.

A rumor connects them with the Tree of Life and the Carpi’coór,
saying that lost souls who sought refuge in the Eu'reóll
mixed with it and became these powerful, sentient seeds, but as nothing more is
known it is unsure to elaborate on this any further.